The Dickinson press., 1887-04-23

| ASohse'o N4SSS SoO was W Ie asked now COL
away from Barnum. l rather prided myself
OIL tho title of Green Dragon Of the Plains.'
and generally announced myself as sich when
l got the chance, for it seemed to me there
was nothn' sneakin' about that.
"Well, when 1 got acrost the Sierras to
Hangtown, found out there was to be a
grand ball that night just in the edge Of the
town. Before scattering out to the various
California camps for which they were bound
the people We're goin' to have farewell dance
together In the evenin thought I'd slip
down to wlar the dance was to come off and
look on while. always was mighty fond
of dancin', and down in old Missouri not
many could beat mo at the double shuttle or
the fancy steps and filings.
When got to the place found they had
set up lot of crotches in which they had laid
poles, coverin' the whole with pine and spruce
boughs. maxim sort OF canopy over big
open hail. The ground under this great shed
had been leveed Off and beaten down till it
was like brick yard found two or three
tildlers mounted OH pine boxes, and with
them a Teller with u clarionet. They were
maxim pretty fair music, and great crowd
was dancin away. y happier lot of people
l never saw before, and have never seen
since. All the dangers of the plains and
deserts We're left behind, and before was u
land of flowers and of gold.
We'll, stood i'll the edge of crowd of
2oI = 300 spectators for u while as a mere
locker on, but pretty soon got excited like
My old Missouri ambition was aroused
forgot all about my drawers and sailed into
the thick of the business with a tall, gallus
| Pike county gal, with sunbonnet off and hair
hanging down her back almost to the heels OF
rictl her head like the lead hoss of band
wagon can tell you we made the dust fly!
| | am little over six foot; and that gals
head came we'll up over my shoulders; so you
can see VIC were 10 slouch of Il couple. Be-
sides, the girl was prcttier than a bay steer.
Il soon saw that though my drawers might
he n little too tight, had on about the sound
est rig i'll the whole place. looked lust like
was in some kind Of masquerade outfit and
soon found that lots of the people thought l
was made III, for something, as could hear
the spectators i'll the front ranks buzzng
about it. hogan to consider myself the
beau of the hal-a regular dandy
'Go III, green legs" the felerS on the out
side would holer, and 90 in did. Presently,
| III pauS" i'll dance, 4 Spectator tapped me
Oh the shoulder. and when turned about he
Said Excuse ne. sir. hut some of us hero nrc
curious To know what You represents.
II stopped my mouth to his ear and said:
The Green Dragon of the Piains'
"'rhank you, sir said the man.
He was going away, when lie turned back
and said: And the laly-your partnerr
1.-The Desert Waif,' sail l.
/ "Soon We started OF in another dance. and.
hcnrtencd up as | was. l can tell you made
them long green legs of mine fly in swngin'
on the corners. l had for my partner the
handSomest. imbcrest and willingist gal in
the whole outfit, and was SO jubilant that l
could hardly stay or the ground, but bounded
like WAS made of imjun rubber. Presently,
when Id jist cut 4 wonderful flourish, there
arose q cry OF 'Hurrah for the Green Dragon
of tho Plains" 'Whooper! Bully for the
Green Dragon! and so the cry went up from
hundred throatS. Hardly was this over
before, at another high flourish, there was a
cry of 'i!mrrai! for the Desert Waif and the
Green Dragon. Hi Iii, for the Desert Waif,
the Queen of the Plains And the Rose of
Missouri added another voice.
"'Hhat do ,hey mean by Green Dragon
and Desert Waif.' whispered my partner.
"'Why,' said /, they are applaudn' us.
You are til" Desert Waif and am the Green
Dragon of the Plains They think We are in
a sort of masquerade rig
"'I am sure am not, said she.
"'No matter, said |; they think so, on &C.
count of Your hair covering you like q
mantle
She was pleased; and after that we both
fairly flew. Never had | danced so before;
seemed on steel springs. l got so excited
/ about the sensation we We're maxim that cut
nil kinds OF pigeon wings and fancy flour
i,hes. invrntin' not few on the spur Of the
moment.
$50 i'll, Green Dragon.' and Glorious,
my Desert Waifr the fellers on the outside
would boiler, and then all got out of our way
as we sailed and whrled up and down the
/ hall | felt myself heels over head in love
with my partner, and determined to find out
| whar she was goin' to- then foler her off and
court her from the word go. Finally, a
/ couple Of children came waltzin' along.
thought it would Ike good trick to sling one
of my long, green legs, circus fashion, over
the little couple.
II tried it and heard something rip You
can guess what had happened left that
hall on tile wing-left, running like q kiotee
AS left l heard behind me a hundred
ycls Of Hi, the Green Dragon' Stop the
Green Dragon! 'Noa, the Green Dragon. he
! has stampeded!'
/ A>''s
had business elsewhere about that time. The
Green Dragon had an indistinct recollection
of havin' jumped over the heads Of several
I people, half dozen oxen and wagon or two,
but lie did not stop until he crawled into the
shelter OF friendly tent up in the town. So
ended my first ball in California, and don't
know as l ever sot eyes on man, woman or
child that was thar from that day to this
"Guess you have" said an old chap among
the listeners. II was thar and seed the whole
performance. 1t was my Oldest gal you was
dancin' with. Her man has one Of the big
gest cattle ranches in California Kate don't
dance much these times; but even now,
though she's SO, put her on hoss and she'll
outriGic the wind"
The little girl you tried to swing your leg
over" said another old cock, "was my child,
and she's now the wife of Senator VS., of
California"
Il am the very man that gave you those
green baze drawers" said another of the
party. II remembered you as soon as you
mentioned what happened out there on the
Humboldt"
"N-onderful wonderful" cried Bud; then
turning to an 'Old Boy" sitting near be said:
"And what are you!"
"Blamedino," said the man addressed. ~
guess must e-oln the lnJun that traded you
the moccasins!"-Dan de Quille in New York
Sun.
Too 'Eucl, style.
"Whats the r,at,el-:7 he asked of n street
car conductor whom, he met loafing about the
l'ostofiice the other day.
Got the bounce"
What for.'
sTryins to elevate the profession"
"Eow.a
Well, put on n plug hat, kid gloves and
pair of eyeglasses, and raised my hat to
tho ladies as they got on and off the car, and
at the end of three days was told to walk
There were twenty six complaints lodged
agaims. liie."
What for.''
Being too polite TO the patrons of tho
road. Singular town this is The ladies'
didn't seem to appreciate true politeness. -
Detroit Free Press.